CATCHING MANNY
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Feb 2016
GEN. SANTOS CITY ? When boxing writers meet in Gensan, Manny Pacquiao always becomes the focal point of conversation.
?Can we see him?? ?Is he here??
The initial word was he was going to Manila. Then later in the day, it was that he was here but he wasn?t feeling well. So, it was a pleasant surprise when we got the message that he was indeed in town.
He was playing basketball with his team in the MP-National Basketball League (NBL). Thanks to our taxi driver who got lost along the way, we managed to catch Pacquiao midway in the third quarter.
He drove and dished and sank three pointers. The score was close in the third but his team pulled away with a sixteen point cushion going into the final two minutes. He finally took a much needed breather.
He was already in shape, especially if you consider the fact that he scored forty points.
Reminders of his faith are everywhere, from his team?s jersey to the decorations in his office and in the waiting where his visitors wait in line to have a conversation with the fighting Congressman.
Top photo: Pacquiao scored 40 points during Friday's game.
The author poses with Pacquiao after Friday's basketball game.
Compared to other senior philboxing writers, my close encounters with Pacquiao are relatively few and far in between. I first shook his hand when he got his honorary doctorate in Cebu in 2009. I watched a couple of his training stints in Baguio. I was the chief ring physician when he fought Chris Algieri in Macao.
The basketball court has provided Pacquiao opportunities to relax and be himself, away from the controlled violence of his chosen profession. He was gracious enough to give the few Cebuano boxing scribes present a few minutes of his time after the game.
Filipinos who have traveled and lived overseas like me have felt the impact of Pacquiao the boxer. I remember one of my Tanzanian friends telling me that he knows only two Filipinos ? me and Pacquiao. Drivers in Sri Lanka know him. One of the Chinese boxers in the ongoing League of Fists always wears a Pacquiao T-shirt during the weigh-in.
I will always look back to the reckless brawler I saw inside the Cebu Coliseum way back in 1997. The way the crowd roared in his fight against Melvin Magramo was a portent of things to come.
Pacquiao has talked about the third Bradley fight being his last. Even if he leaves the door open for a comeback, we all know he cannot box forever. All good things come to pass. Let?s enjoy the remaining years of Philippine boxing?s Golden Age.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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